Jump

Anytime I take a little blogging hiatus, I have such a hard time jumping back in. But what else if there to do, other than to jump. So here I go.

Spring is finally here, just barely. It’s not exactly ‘pack away your coats and socks’ weather, but there’s definitely hints of life around—both in nature and in people’s spirits. The other day, I went running around lake park and was very carefully scrutinizing every branch and square inch of earth for signs of green. Or any color for that matter. It seems to be coming a lot slower than I remember from living here a couple of years ago…

Things have been a little rough here the past while as I’ve been battling with upcoming decisions and figuring out, YET AGAIN, what we’re going to do next. I was accepted into grad school at Columbia College in Chicago (I’m going back for a Master in Arts Adminstration), which has led Ali and I to be forced with the very dreaded and avoided process of making another decision about our futures. I’ve been in Korea for a month short of a year already, and was supposed to be ending my contract at the end of May. But with my school closing right before Christmas and me frantically and necessarily finding a new job, my contract now ends next Christmas. So unless I want to break that and unless Ali and I are actually going to figure something out and be ready to live in Chicago in 4 months, I think grad school in the fall is something I just need to put out of my mind for now. I just don’t think it’s gonna happen. Lately, I’ve been reminded of how vulnerable our situation is. Korea is like this happy little bubble, where you so easily forget what things are like in the real world. We’re now looking at a program in Brisbane Australia and the Queensland University of Technology, where we could both get a Master in our individual artistic fields. But as with EVERYTHING, it’s not just as easy as it seems. I’m now working on hiring an evaluation service so that we can ensure this masters degree is the equivalent of a masters degree back home. What’s the point of moving half way across the world for a degree that means nothing where we actually want to live?

I love traveling. I love adventure. I love new things and new places. But I would also, so so so love to have some roots and something not so…temporary. But I suppose this is what your 20s are for. (I think Carrie Bradshaw said something like that…)

26

The entrance to my 26^th year of life has come and gone. Yes, it was my birthday last Saturday. I spent most the cold, dark, and dreary day bundled up inside with friends—eating, drinking, charade-playing—but did manage to get out with some girlfriends for my first ever manicure!!! I loooooooved it! I got a bright green sparkly color. It was a low key day, apart from when I walked into the apartment to see fireworks being set off and nearly burning the place down. The ‘happy birthday’ song to follow was cut short by panicked birthday suprisers trying to manage the flaming sparkles. Other than the fact that we set off the building’s fire alarm on my floor (much to the dismay of my neighbors), it was the perfect birthday surprise!

Here’s some pics from the day. To see a few more, click here for my latest album I've uploaded to facebook.

Pretttttyyyy...

Joy, Amanda, and I showing off our new colors.

Digging in first. It's my birthday after all.

The same fireworks Ali set off in my apartment as I walked in the door. As you can see, definitely meant for outdoor usage...

Raw Meat in a Lion's Den

I found myself flipping through channels on the treadmill tonight, and I suddenly stumbled on an episode of Glee. I've never seen more than a few youtube clips of Glee (notably, the one where the football team does 'Single Ladies'--thank you, sisters), and I was more than pleasantly surprised to have something to watch while getting through my Monday 5K. It wasn't on my list of 'occasionally have stuff in English' channels, and I totally felt like it was a real find. Who knew that 20 minutes of TV filled with pop tunes could be...so...GOOD. I cried on minute 26, all the way to minute 28 1/2. (Which did not go unnoticed by the glaring, suspicious old woman on my right) It was the one where some blonde girl was pregnant and some brunette girl sang Jordan Sparks' 'Breathe.' I have totally found a new show to download.

I also found myself at the dentist recently, and let me tell you, Korean's know how to do teeth. I went in, got checked, had a cavity, got said cavity filled, and paid less than $8. The best part was that the dreaded filling of the cavity took...prepare yourself...2 MINUTES!!!! It went something like this: Dentist: "Ok, time. Raise left hand when pain." Me: "Wait! Where's my novacaine shot! WHERE'S MY NOVACAINE SHOT!!!!" And believe it or not, that dude had me in and out of the chair in 2 minutes flat. I guess it's this new technology where they cut out the cavity with laser drills or something. I made him give me a mirror and show me exactly where he had done the filling afterward. I was in disbelief. But sure enough, 8$ later, I had a happy tooth. Adding 'Korean Dentist Bills' to my list of things I like about Korea...

I had the music class from hell today. I kid you not. You know it's bad when you find yourself yelling things like.."Celine! Stop unbuttoning my shirt!" and "Yoony! DO NOT EAT THE EGG SHAKER!" and "Irene! Do not poke out Chuck's eye with the triangle stick!!!!" and "Dear Jesus, save me...SAVE ME!!!" I finally gave up as I looked around and realized that this had gone from struggling music class to feeding time in a lion's den. Me being the raw meat. 12 kids, not one who understood "sit in a circle," and not one who felt scared by my usually effective yelling of "3...2...1..." Clearly, they are smart enough to know that after I finish the "1", nothing really happens. It was chaos. It was worse than chaos. It was mad anarchy. Next time, I will be fully armed...with sticker sheets and candy.

Graduation and A Movie About Monks

Last Saturday, we had the graduation festival at my school. It was time to say goodbye to my seven year olds (well, I guess they're considered 8 now) that I've taught since I started last May. They all followed me to this school after my last school closed, and it was sad to say goodbye on Saturday. There were a lot of hugs, a lot of flowers, a lot of nodding and smiling at parents who tried to say "thank you for teaching my kid" in about 12 different ways...it was nice.

It was also nice to get the festival over with. We've done nothing but practice for this 2-hour long performance for the past month, and I was glad to have it over with already. I have to say, there were hilarious and adorable moments as my 7 year olds put on Cinderella--the best being the fire drill that set off right between scene 4 and 5, and also as my 6 year olds put on The Gingerbread Man after having never even practiced on the stage. I think Cinderella was the hit of the night, and I'm pretty proud to have pulled it off considering we have 10 boys and 4 girls in the class--have you realized how many boy parts there are NOT in Cinderella? To compensate, we had a step sister and step brother (had to change a few of the lines--for example "shine my shoes" instead of "fix my dress" and "Ooooh, I hope the Prince will want to be my friend!" instead of "Ooooooh, I hope the Prince falls in love with me!" -- I didn't really think a gay step brother would go down so well with the Korean parents...), two fairy godfathers, two princes, a male cat and 2 male mice. It was a very testosterone-filled version of Cinderella. (That is, as much testosterone 7 year old little boys can muster.)

After the festival, Ali and I headed to Hongdae for mexican and margaritas with Sarah Jane and Reuben, and then to Club Ta to watch our friend Simon play. It was a really nice night. I felt really happy as I looked around and found myself surrounded with really wonderful people and really wonderful friends. I've been pulling out of my winter blues lately, I think, as the weather gets a little warmer, and I have more motivation to be out and about. Sunday, we ate the worst Indian food EVER with Joy and Rob for Joy's birthday, but didn't let it spoil the night as we bowled and ate dessert from one of my favorite dessert places in Seoul.

The best part of life right now is that I'm on vacation! Yesterday was a national holiday, and today and tomorrow my school gave me off b/c I worked 3 Saturdays this month. I am not wasting my days off--tomorrow morning, I'm heading to...get ready...H&M!!!!!!! It opened in Seoul! Apparently, there was a line 2 blocks long last Saturday (opening day) just to get IN to the store. So, I'm getting there right as it opens tomorrow morning to be the crowds. How many people could be there on a Wednesday morning???

Ali and I nearly wasted our day off yesterday as we encountered what was probably one of the worst movie experiences of my life. We headed all the way into the city to see a movie at the Apugjeong Theatre called "Into Great Silence.' It's a documentary about the Carthusian monks who live high in a remote corner of the French Alps. They live a hermit lifestyle of solitude, and we thought it'd be a really interesting documentary to see. And it got 89% on Rotten Tomatoes...what could go wrong? I'll tell you what could go wrong: nearly 3 hours of NO talking! The entire documentary was pretty much void of any speaking whatsover. And it was sooooo....LOOOOONG! We literally just watched the monks do the same thing, over and over and over again. Praying. Ringing the bell. Chanting. Praying. Ringing the bell. Chanting. Praying. Ok, obviously I know that this was the point: to experience the solitude and very remote lives of the monks. And ok, it was beautiful and all. But 3 hours of sitting in a theater where absolutely NOTHING happened. I knew it was bad when the nun sitting next to us in the theater fell asleep. I thought she was praying until her head started nodding off. Ali and I finally walked out after being there over 2 and a half hours and marched directly the nearest place that sold beer so we could, as soon as possible, feel part of the real world again. There's something about those monks that made me feel a desperate need to be very, very, VERY part of society.

P90what?

I’ve packed a lot into the past week. Baking cookies with Korean friends who had never made cookies before (GASP!), having a co-worker over for gin and tonics to vent about…you guessed it, work. And then came spa day with Joy on Saturday for her birthday, which included massages from the foot shop and a day at the jimjilbang in the mountains bathing, scrubbing, and generally detoxifying and getting good ole fashion girl time.

The other night, Ali and I tried the P90X ab workout. Apparently, my abs are not the rock hard bricks of steel I thought they were. (I didn’t think they were.) I nearly died. What is this whole P90X thing anyway. I’m way not caught up on the latest and greatest workouts because everyone seems to know about this but me. I thought I was doing pretty good with my regular sit-up regime, and they made me feel like my tummy was made of cotton candy. Jerks.

We have graduation this Saturday. Whooopeee! My kids are performing Gingerbread Man and Cinderella. Both written and directed by yours truly. And by directed, I mean “shouted at and put in the thinking corner those who were not getting into the spirit of acting.” I think it was pretty effective.

Yong Pyeong

Happy New Year!!!! Again! Korea celebrated the Lunar New Year last weekend, and while all the Koreans went home to their families, Ali and I headed to the mountains in Gangwang-do to Yong Pyeong Ski Resort. We heard that this was the best place to ski in Korea and it was, people, IT WAS!!!!

We got picked up by the bus at 5:25 Saturday morning, promptly fell asleep, and woke up just outside of ther resort to at least 2 feet of snow. It was like falling asleep and waking up to a magical winter wonderland. The resort was equally as magical, with little rustic cottages and lodges tucked in the mountain, pine trees draped with a snowy lining, rolling hills covered in white, and ski slopes running all through the mountain.

I’m definitely getting better at skiing, but definitely not getting better at staying un-sore. Wow. After day one, I felt like I had been crushed by a giant snow plow, and after day 2 I was afraid I had done irreparable damage. Seriously in pain. But I managed a few runs down some blacks (this sounds like the highest level, but there were, in fact, double blacks, so don’t over-estimate my ability) and learned to carve to the right with something that I would almost call confidence. (For some reason, I have the hardest time turning right....) And I only cried once. Ok, twice. First as I stood at the very edge of a very scary black, with Ali a few meters down telling me to take the plunge and me getting more and more paralyzed with each passing second. And then one more time on our last day when Ali spent the afternoon attempting to snow board, and I felt like I was physically incapable of putting my body through any more pain. And I cried because I felt like Ali was getting a head start and I didn’t think it was fair. It made a lot of sense at the time to be angry. I guess you had to be there.

Probably one of the coolest places I’ve ever been in Korea!!! To see the complete album, click here.

#1 on the List.

The other day my co-worker was adding to her list of "things I like about Korea." I think she was trying to find ways to stay positive and remember the good amidst the ever-present frustrations we bump into on a daily basis. (Because there is so much good, and it's so easy to forget.)

Here's something that may be on the very top of my "things I like about Korea" list: KOREAN MASSAGES!

I stumbled on a place called The Foot Shop sometime last summer, and despite what the name indicates, it does oh-so-much-more than just feet. I think I've had just about every little Korean man and woman who works there, and they are all...equally...amazing. I've never had such purely blissful back rubs. Seriously. They dig, they elbow, they get on the table and use their entire bodies...it's perfect. Every time.

So last night I had completed my little sticker card (after 10 back rubs you get 50% off!), and I've been in EXCRUCIATING pain ever since my presentation on Saturday and my lack of stretching after the gym last week, so I decided to splurge for the 80 minute full body Sports massage. I've always gotten the 40 minute, which is mostly just the upper half of my body. This little Korean woman seriously find places in my legs that I never realized hurt. I was writhing in pain and it was WONDERFUL!

And it's so cheap! Less than $20 for 40 minutes.

Thank you, Korea, for having such perfectly wonderful, stress-relieving, inexpensive massages.